US 4,733,721 A · Apparatus and method for heating a fluid

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying a heated fluid to a heat consumption circuit, such as an injection mold. The apparatus comprises a heat exchanger, for heating the fluid, a pump for pumping the heated fluid to the heat consumption circuit, a reservoir for storing the fluid, and a degasifier for degasifying the fluid that returns from the heat consumption circuit to the apparatus. The heat exchanger, and the pump comprise one compact integral assembly. In addition, the connection between the degasifier and the reservoir is in the form of a siphon which acts as a thermal barrier to prevent the heat from the heated fluid from heating the fluid in the reservoir. As a result of this arrangement, the total volume of fluid used is much smaller than in prior art devices, thereby substantially decreasing the heat losses from the fluid to the environment.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus for supplying a heated fluid to a heat consumption circuit, wherein said apparatus comprises:

(a) a heat exchanger means for heating said fluid;
(b) means for pumping said heated fluid to said heat consumption circuit, wherein said pump means is integral with said heat exchanger means and forms a single integral assembly therewith;
and
(c) a reservoir for storing said fluid, wherein said reservoir is mounted on said assembly and is adapted to supply said fluid to said heat exchanger means and said pumping means, wherein said assembly comprises:
(i) a rotatable drum for circulating said fluid within said assembly;
(ii) a heating wall for heating said fluid;
(iii) a cylindrical housing, encasing said heat exchanger means and said pump means, wherein said cylindrical housing comprises an exterior circular crown having electrical resistance elements therein for heating said heating wall;
and
(iv) cooling means, inside said cylindrical housing for selectively cooling said fluid.

6 more elements

An apparatus for supplying a heated fluid to a heat consumption circuit, wherein said apparatus comprises:

(a) a heat exchanger means for heating said fluid;
(b) pump means for pumping said heated fluid to said heat consumption circuit, wherein said pump means is integral with said heat exchanger means and forms a single integral assembly therewith;
and
(c) a reservoir for storing said fluid, wherein said reservoir is mounted on said assembly and is adapted to supply said fluid to said heat exchanger means and said pumping means, wherein said assembly comprises:
(i) a rotatable drum for circulating said fluid within said assembly, said rotatable drum comprising at least one vent therein, wherein said at least one vent comprises means for permitting internal circulation of said fluid in said heat exchanger and pump means in the event of a sudden interruption of the circulation of said fluid in said consumption circuit;
(ii) a heating wall for heating said fluid;
(iii) a cylindrical housing, encasing said heat exchanger means and said pump means, wherein said cylindrical housing comprises an exterior circular crown having electrical resistance elements therein for heating said heating wall;
and
(iv) cooling means, inside said cylindrical housing for selectively cooling said fluid.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for heating a fluid

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for heating a fluid

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21